Starting and Monitoring antidepressant treatment
When an antidepressant is to be prescribed in routine care, it should be a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), because SSRIs are as effective as tricyclic antidepressants and are less likely to be discontinued because of side effects.
- explore any concerns the person has about taking medication and provide information, including:
- the gradual development of the full antidepressant effect
- the importance of taking medication as prescribed and the need to continue beyond remission
- potential side effects and drug interactions
- the risk and nature of discontinuation symptoms (particularly with drugs with a shorter half-life, such as paroxetine and venlafaxine)
- the fact that addiction does not occur
- for people who are not considered to be at increased risk of suicide, normally see them after 2 weeks. See them regularly, for example every 2-4 weeks in the first 3 months, and then at longer intervals if response is good
- for people who are considered to be at increased risk of suicide or are younger than 30 years, normally see them after 1 week and then frequently until the risk is no longer clinically important
- if a person experiences side effects early in treatment, provide information and consider:
- monitoring symptoms closely if side effects are mild and acceptable to the person or
- stopping or changing to a different antidepressant if the person prefers or
- in discussion with the person, consider short-term concomitant treatment with a benzodiazepine if anxiety, agitation and/or insomnia are problematic (except in people with chronic symptoms of anxiety); this should usually be for no longer than 2 weeks in order to prevent the development of dependence
- people who start on low-dose TCAs and have a clear clinical response can be maintained on that dose with careful monitoring
- If the person's depression shows no improvement after 2 to 4 weeks with the first antidepressant, check that the drug has been taken regularly and in the prescribed dose
- if response is absent or minimal after 3-4 weeks of treatment with a therapeutic dose of an antidepressant, increase support and consider:
- increasing the dose in line with the summary of product characteristics (SPC) if there are no significant side effects or
- switching to another antidepressant if there are side effects or if the person prefers
- if there is some improvement by 4 weeks, continue treatment for another 2-4 weeks. Consider switching antidepressants if:
- response is still not adequate or
- there are side effects or
- the person prefers to change drug
For more detailed guidance then refer to full NICE guideline (1).
Reference:
- NICE (April 2018). Depression
- Anderson IM et al (2000). Evidence-based guidelines for treating depressive disorders with antidepressants: a revision of the 1993 British Association for Psychopharmacology guidelines. J Psychopharmacol, 14, 3-20.
- MeReC Briefing (2005); 31:1-8.